Signaling device for motor vehicles



June 24, 1930.

J. DEBLiEUX SIGNALING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNov. 22, 1929 ATTORN EY WITNESS June 24, 1930.

J. 'DEBLIEUX SIGNALING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledNOV. 22, 1929 INVENT OR (John ,Delb Zzeux,

ATTORNEY Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED a STATES JOHN DEBLIEUX, OFOPELOUSAS, LOUISIANA SIGNALING. DEVICE'FOR MOTOR VEHICLESApplication-filed November 22, 1929,- Serial No. 409;145, and in CanadaJanuary 24,1930.

Thisinvention; relates to signaling, devices to beused on motor vehiclesto indicate to the driversof other vehicles,.the intended stopping,vslowing-cor the intended direction of turning, of the vehicleequipped'with the'device; and is more'particularly concerned withadevice of this character'inanually controlled by the vehicleoperator-and constructed and functioning-to simulate the arm signals nowm practically standardized and in use in the majority of States.

These practically standardized arm signals provide for the: extension ofthe arm outwardly'from' the side of. the vehicle with the 5 fore-arm.bent upwardly at: the: elbow for right turns; with the arm extendedhorizontally for: left turns; and with the'arm bent downwardly fromthe'horizontal for slowing or stopping. l I

The present inventionprovidesanarm type signal having a fore-arm (andhand.) section mounted: for' swinging movement relatively to; an upperarm section and for swinging movement. with said upper arm section,and

y manually operable means for controlling the I movement of: thesesections. Since the signaling. arm sections simulate the human arm, theywill be described in termsthereof asthe mechanical. equivalents of thehumanarm structure.

r The inventionconsists inthe constructions, arrangements andcombinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed and will bemoreclearly apparent from the following detailed specification which is tobe read in conjunctionwiththeaccompanyihg'drawings v formingpartthereof. andii'llustrating a preferable'embodiment of the invention.

In these drawings: Figure I is a fragmentary perspective View of a'motor vehicle showing my signaling device applied thereto. Figure 2'. isa View inrsideelevation of the v device, the. signaling arm beingdrawninto Its casing and the vehicle cowl being shown in section. r

Figure3 is a transverse'verticalsect-ion on w an enlarged'scale througharm and casing.

Figure 4 is a similar sectional view but with the upper and fore-armsections swung outwardly from the casing to the signaling position shownin Figure Y Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section through the-casingand signal. arm; of Figure 3, taken on line 5-5 of Figure '3.

Figure 6 is a transverse horizontal section through the pivot of thefore-arm section taken online 66 of Figure 3.

-1 and shown indott'ed lines.

The device, of the present invention is attached to the side of thevehicle body adjacent and forwardlyof thejoperator or. driver andprovides a signal arm conforming to the elements of the human arm andposi- 7 tioned correspondingly in giving traffic signals so that in thefollowing description and claims, the elements of the signal arm aredescribed'in corresponding terms as the me-' chanical equivalents of thehuman arm struc- 30 ture. Thedeviceis carried in an elongated relativelynarrow box-like casing 1 havingjan I open outer side and whichis securedas shown in Figure 1 by means-of brackets 2,.or equivs5:

alent attaching means to the frame post 3 of the wind shield, or to thecorresponding part. of the vehicle body; with its open side outermost.Thiecasing 1 may be of any suitable: material andis designed'tohouse'the signal arm in its inoperative or non-signaling position.

This signal arm comprises an upper arm section 4 and a fore-arm section5 which may have it outer end formed to simulate the human hand asindicated at 6 in Figure 1. The

upper arm of a flat tubular body of metal or other suitable substance,open at'its opposite ends, and pivotally mounted at what may be termedits shoulder end, or that point conforming to the shoulder joint of thehuman arm, on

a rock shaft 7 traversing the casing 1 adjacent itslower outer edge. Asleeve 8 spanning the interior'of the tubular arm section 5 and rigidtherewith receives rock shaft'7 and is suitably fixed thereto as, forexample,

thereoncertain operating means hereinafter described. This shafttherefore constitutes the shoulder joint or pivot of the signaling arm.

At its other and outer end, the upper arm section 4 has its verticalside faces formed on the curve of a circle and between said curved endsis cut away to an extent approximating a semi-circle to receive thelower or elbo end of the fore-arm section 5.

This fore-arm section 5 is, as shown, in the form of a'fiat tubularmember of a thickness to fit between the sides of the casing 1 and ofless thickness than the upper arm section 4 to fit in the cut out openend thereof. Its lower end has its vertical side faces curved on thecontour of a circle corresponding to that of the upper arm section, themetal or other material spanning the ends of these vertical side facesbeing cut out to provide clearance for certain spring connections laterdescribed, a portion of this connecting surface indicated at 9 in Figure4 being inset from and concentric with the curved end of c the upperarm. section 4 to extend within its curvature as a shield preventing theentrance of rain, etc. therein. 'A-second rock shaft 10'traverses-the-lower end of the fore-arm section 5'axiallyofits'semi-circularly contoured endand of that of the upper arm section 4and is journaled in the'sides of said upper arm section. Thusthefore-arm section is.

pivotally mounted upon the upper arm section at that point correspondingto the elbow joint of the human arm. In the alined positions of thefore-arm and upper armsections, a shoulder 11 formed at the junction ofthe inset shield portion 9 of the fore-arm with the side and shown inFigure 4, abuts the edge 12 of one of the connecting sides of the upperarm section. The end of the opposite connecting side is out-turned as at13, Figure section 4, as shown, is in the form naling position as laterdescribed, and as,

shown in the drawings in Figures 1 and 4. Internally of the hollowfore-arm section 5 a sleeve 14 is mounted on the second rock shaft 10and is pinned thereto, this sleeve carrying two oppositely disposed arms15 and 16 which extend in the horizontal in the vertical non-signalingposition of the arm sections shown in Figure 3. To the end of the innerarm 16 (in the position shown in Fig is anchored one end of a tensionedcoil spring 17 whose opposite end is anchored to a bracket plate 18suitably secured to the base of the casing 1 adjacent its inner end.

Intermediate of the first rock shaft 7 and the bracket 18 a third rockshaft 10 traverses the casing 1 adjacent its base and is journaledtherein, one end of this rock shaft extending outwardly from the face ofthevcasing in the direction of the vehicle operator and mounting anabutment crank arm 20 thereon which in the verticallyalinednon-signaling position of the arm sections extends slightly inclinedoutwardly from the vertical as shown in Figures 6, 7' and 8. The edgesof the sides of the upper arm section at the inner end of said section'arenotchedas shown at 21 in'Figure 4 to clear therock shaft 19.

This rock shaft within the casing 1 is provided with a sleeve-22 clampedthereon and havingan arm 23 extending outwardly therefrom andsubstantially alining with the abutment crank arm on the extended outerendof the rock shaft. The arm 23 is provided with.

244425, in the vertically alined position of the 7 arm sections, shownin Fig. 3, is slack and not 7 under tension and is overcome by thetension of the coil springs 17 anchoring the opposite 1 arm 16 to thecasing. Therefore, when the first rock shaft 7 is actuated to swing itsattached upper arm section 5 outwardly from the casing 1, the tensionedcoil spring 17 will act to turnthecrock shaft 10 and swing-the fore-armsection upwardly toward the verti cal until the connecting side of thefore-arm section engages and is stopped by the abutment 13 with thefore-arm extended upwardly in the familiar right turn signaling positionof the human hand. hen this point has been reached, the slack in thespring-link connect-ion 2425 will be taken up and the latter connectionwill be substantially taut. Certaln actuating means for the rock shaft 7will be provided with position-indicating means sot-hat the movement ofthe arms may be stopped at this position which will constitute the firstsignaling position of the arm when out-swung fromthe casing 1. Furthermovement of the rock shaft 7 and-its attached upper armsection 4outwardly'in-the same direction is arrangedtocause'pull through thespringdinlr connection 24s-25 to overcome the-tension of! thes-pri'ng1-7 and reversely to swing the fore-arm section into engagementwiththe-upper arm'section, bringing the stops 11 and 12" into engagementas the upper arm sectionswings downwardly from its position inclinedupwardly from the horizontal of Figs; 1 and 4 to thehorizontalrepresenting a second signalingposition designating a leftturn. When'this point has been reached, the

, fore-arm and upper arm sections '5 and-41' will be-in aliner'nent andextend in the horizontal, in-whichposition they are maintained by thetension applied through the spring-link connection-25 and rock shaft 19.This tension is secured asfollows:

It will be seen from Figs. 6 and 8 of the drawings that the extended endof the first rock shaft 7 has clamped orotherwisefixedly securedtlieretean' arm 26 which in the verticaPnon-signalingposition of thealined arm sections, extendsvertically downward (Fig. 8-) and has itslower endofiset and formedas acam- 27' lying in the plane of theabutment crank arm 20 of the third shaft 19. Movement' of the-rock'shaft 7 in a counter-clockwise'direction as viewed in Figure 8"to swingthe'arin' sections outwardly from the casing to the first signalingposition shownin Fig. 4 will Bring the cam 27' into abutting relation kto the" abut-mentcrank arm-2O as indicated in dotted'lines, Fig; 8:Further movement of the 'rock'shaft inthe same direction or'from theposition .shownin Figs; 1 and 4 tea second from its position inclinedupwardlyto the horizontal shown in Figures land 4- outward'ly anddownwardly into alinement' with the upper arm' section 4 until theabutments 1'11and12 (Figure 4') engage; The cam at this point willremain in engagement with the" crank arm, maintainingthe; arm sectionsin alinement while they are extended in; the

horizontal and duringa further. downward movement'of the armsectionsconjoint-ly to a plane; b'elow the horizontal representing athird signaling position or the slowing or s'topping"signali at whichpoint the cam 27 willstill' engage the crankarm 20- and resist 1 reversemovement thereof through the ten;- sioned spring 17.; On reverse"movement of the rock. shaftj7,',t he cam will continue to'maint'ainthe'arm sections in alinement as the arm is swung from itslowermost signaling position back to the horizontal. As the arm sectionsare nowfurther swung upwardly from the horizontal to the initialsignaling position inclinedupwardly from the horizontal, the ca1n27'willbegin to release thecrank arm 20-and permit the tensioned coil spring 17to swing thesleeve 14 and the fore-arm section relatively to the upperarm section and-to the upwardly'inclined positions shown in Figs. 1 and4. On movement of the arm sections from this first signaling position tolie withinthe casing 1 in inoperative-signal ing position, theforearm-section will be returned-to'the verticah the hand 6 thereof engaging theback of the casing land causing the fore-arm section to swing"to thevertical position shown in Fig. 3, as the upper arm section 1'entering the casing now straightens out intovertical position.

Various operating connections for the rock I shaft 7 may be utilized. Asshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8, the outer endof' a transversely'extend'inglink 28 is afixed to the extended end of the rock shaft 7. I To itsinner end is pivotally attached and from it depends a verticallyextending link 29 which as shown is guided through a vertical bore 30in'the cowl of the motor vehicle illustrated and is pivotally attachedat its lower end tothe outer arm 31 of a bellcrank lever pivoted on ahorizontal stud 32 aiiixed to the dash.

From the end of the opposite arm 33 of" the bell crank lever a link 34depends to pivot ally connect to the lower end of an operating handlever 35 which may be pivoted intermediate' its-ends at 36 to a bracketplate 37 clamped to the steering column, for example and having anarcuate upper edge 38 provided with-a series of spaced'position denotingnotches 39 as suggested in Fig. 1. The

upper end of the lever 85 extends above'the arcuate edge 36 and may beprovided with a lateral ofiset 10 providing an operating handle and witha suitable spring pressed looking dog ll which may, for example have itsupperend laterally offset to underlie the handle offset 40 and provideaconvenient meansfbr releasing the dogfrom'a position denoting notch39when the handle end 40 is grasped to operate the connections to the rockshaft 'Z for'signaling. The notches 39 may have associated therewithcertain'legends-denoting the slowingor stopping signal position, theleft turn position, the right turn position, and the off position. Thedescribed connections arenierely suggestive of one manner in which therock shaft 7 may be actuatedand this showing together'with the ispecific'strnctural' details of the signal device per se are intendedasillustrative rather than restrictive of the invention whose structureis'subject tomodification and'adaptation' to su-i't different conditionsof manufacture and use in consonance with the spirit of the inventionand the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A signaling device for vehicles com-V prising a fixed support, arockshaft mount-- ed thereon, a signal arm carried by said rock shaftcomprising an upper arm section carried by and moving with said rockshaft and a fore-arm section pivotally mounted on one end of said upperarm section and normally ex-tendedoutwardly therefrom in alinementtherewith, vehicle driver operable connections to said rock shaft foreffecting determinate movements of said shaft and its alined arms froman inactive to successive section toward a successive signaling position for coincidently moving said fore-arm section into alinementtherewith.

2. A signaling device for vehicles comprising a fixed support, asectional signal arm pivotally mounted thereon at its lower endjforswinging movement outwardly from a substantially vertical section-alinednonsignaling position, said signal arm comprising an upper arm sectionpivoted at its shoulder end on said support and a forearm sectionpivoted at its elbow end to the elbow end of the upper arm section andnormally extended outwardly therefrom in alinement therewith in verticalnon-signaling po sition, vehicle driver operable means for determinatelysw1ng1ng sa1d fore-arm section with said upper arm section outwardly onits pivot to successive signaling positions, means operative by initialoutswinging movement of the upper arm section to coincidently swing saidfore-arm section on its pivotfrom a normally extended and alinedposition relatively to the upper arm section to a determinate signaling,position at an angle thereto, and means operative by further outswingingmovementof said upper arm section to a succeeding signaling position forcoincidently moving and maintaining said fore-arm section into alinementtherewith.

.3. A signaling device for vehicles comprising a fixed support, a rockshaft journaledthereon, an arm signal carried by and swinging with saidrock shaft outwardly from a non-signaling substantially verticalposition to successive signaling positions, said arm signal com risingan upper section mounted atits s oulder end on said rock shaft formovement therewith and a fore-arm section pivoted at its elbow end tothe elbow end of the upper arm section and normally alined therewith invertical non-signaling position, vehicle driver operable connections tosaid rock shaft for efiecting determinate movement thereof to swing itsattached arm section to selectively predetermined signaling positions,means connecting the fore-arm section and said support operative uponinitial swinging movement of the upper arm section from verticalnon-signaling position to coincidently swing said fore-arm section onits elbow pivot relatively to, and out of alinement with the upper armsection to a determinate signaling position, and mean operative toreversely swing and maintai. said fore-arm section in alinement withsaid upper arm section upon further movement of said section in the samedirection toward a succeeding signaling position. v

4. A signalingdevice for vehicles comprising a fixed verticallyextending casing having an open outer side, a sectional signal armmounted and housed therewith in substantially vertical non-signalingposition, said signal arm comprising an upper arm section pivoted at itsshoulder end to said casing,

and a fore-arm section pivoted at its elbow end tothe elbow end of theupper arm section and normally extended outwardly therefrom in alinementtherewith in vertical non-signaling position within said casing, vehicledriver operable connectionsto said pivoted upper arm'section foreffecting determinate swinging movement thereof to selectivelypredetermined positions, outwardly of the casing, means connecting thefore-arm section and said casing conditioned by initial outswingingmovement of said upper armsection to a first signaling position to swingthe fore-arm section upwardly toward the vertical and relatively to theupper arm section to a determinate signaling position at an anglethereto, and means operated by further swinging movement of the upperarm section in the same direction toward asecondsignaling positioneffective reversely and coin- ,cidently to swing said fore-arm sectionto aline with the upper arm section and to assume therewith anothersignaling position.

5. A signaling device for vehicles comprising a fixed verticallyextending casing having an open outer side, a sectional signal armmounted and housed therein in substantially vertical non-signalingposition, said signal arm comprising an upper arm section pivoted at itsshoulder end to said casing, and a forearm section pivoted at its elbowend to the elbow end of the upper arm section and normally extendedoutwardly therefrom in alinement therewith in vertical non-signal ingposition within said casing, vehicle driver operable connections to saidpivoted upper arm section for effecting determinate swing} ing movementof said arm sections to selectively predetermined signaling positionsoutwardly of the casing, means connecting the fore-arm section and saidcasing tensioned by outswinging movement of said upper arm to asignaling position inclined upwardly from the horizontal and effectiveto swing the fore-arm section upwardly toward the vertical and at anangle relatively to the upper arm section to assume therewith an initialdeterminate signaling position, and means operated by further swingingmovement of said upper arm section in the same direction to successivesignaling positions at and below the horizontal respectively, effectivereversely to swing and maintain said fore-arm section against saidtension to aline and maintain it in alinement with the upper arm sectionin said successive signaling positions at and below the horizontal.

6. A signaling device for vehicles comprising a fixed verticallyextending casing having an open outer side, a rock shaft journaled inand traversing said casing and having an end extended outwardlytherefrom, a sectional signal arm mounted on said rock shaft and housedwithin said casing in substantially vertical non-signaling position,said signal arm comprising an upper arm section fixedly mounted at itsshoulder end on said rock shaft, and a fore-arm section pivotallymounted at its elbow end on a second rock shaft journaled in the elbowend of said upper arm section, oppositely disposed arms on said secondrock shaft, a tensioned coiled spring anchored to one of said arms andto said casing and normally efiective to maintain said upper andfore-arm sections in alinement in the vertical non-signaling positionthereof within said casing, a third rock shaft journaled in said casingadjacent to the first rock shaft having an arm thereon internally of thecasing and having one end extended outwardly from the casing andprovided with an abutment crank arm thereon, a normally untensionedconnection between the other of said oppositely disposed arms on thesecond rock shaft, and the internal arm of the third rock shaft, vehicledriver operable connections to said first rock shaft for effectingdeterminate rotatory movement of said shaft and swinging movement of thesignal arm outwardly and inwardly of the casing, a cam carried by theextended end of said first rock shaft in alinement with and normallyspaced from the abutment crank arm of the third rock shaft andpositioned to engage said abutment crank arm, at the end of out-swingingmovement of the first rock shaft and upper arm section to a firstsignaling position with said arm section inclined upwardly from thehorizontal and effective upon subsequent movement of said rock shaft andarm toward the horizontal to turn said third rock shaft and through itsconnection to the second rock shaft to turn said second rock shaft andfore-arm section against the tension of said spring to aline and holdthe fore-arm and upper arm sections for conjoint signaling position inthe horizontal, said tensioned spring functioning, upon initialout-swinging movement of the signal arm to its first signaling position,to swing the fore-arm section upwardly toward the Vertical to adeterminate first signaling position in conjunction with the out-swungupper arm section.

JOHN DEBLIEUX.

